By Chris Olsen
Laura Boyd’s Whyography is one of more than 30 stories featured in the “Whyography: Building a Brand Fueled by Purpose” book.
Laura Boyd was distracted. Watching her son participate in his confirmation ceremony filled her heart with joy. But now, as she observed the eighth graders at the front of the church, she became fixated on how they were behaving. The boys were muddling their way through the ceremony, joking and elbowing one another. The girls were well-prepared and confidently gave their testimonies. It was the exact opposite of what she’d observed with a group of recent female college graduates she’d been meeting with about career aspirations as a favor to their parents. Around the time young women’s confidence was starting to waver, young men were beginning to lead with theirs.
Laura had always been intrigued by human behavior. She navigated a difficult upbringing with a father who struggled with addiction. Her family moved 18 times before she was 12 years old. As she got older, she realized her path could go one of two ways: She could become a stereotype and repeat her father’s cycle of dysfunction, or she could live by her mother’s example of strength and endurance and make a better life for herself. Laura chose the latter. She majored in psychology and earned a master’s degree in organizational leadership. She worked in high-level marketing positions. In 2006, she became a shareholder for a Minneapolis, Minnesota-based marketing and communications firm. As president of the firm, Laura experienced firsthand the power of coaching teams.
But while watching the kids at church that day, Laura finally understood her true calling: to empower emerging leaders. Not just as part of her job, but as her whole job. She initially considered working for a major corporation because she knew they invested heavily in developing internal talent. But ultimately, Laura realized she could have greater influence on leaders and teams as an outside consultant providing a fresh perspective on organizational challenges. That’s when Leadership Delta was born.
Whether it’s the succession or onboarding of a CEO or other leadership, the transition of key team members, a company merger or acquisition, a rebrand or major communication shift—Leadership Delta works with organizations to navigate what Laura calls a “change event.” She and her team assess the organization’s current reality and map out a plan to achieve their desired outcomes. They then help leaders shift their mentality to that of a high-performing leader, which enables them to clearly articulate their vision and inspire and guide their teams.
Laura’s area of specialty is supporting female leaders. She’s worked hard to understand the factors that cause women to doubt themselves and their abilities. She coaches them on overcoming imposter syndrome, shifting their mindset and the stories they tell themselves, and ultimately becoming more confident leaders. It’s the part of her work Laura finds most fulfilling.
For Laura, the leap to entrepreneurship was the perfect path for her to fully combine her purpose and her profession. She has a passion for supporting others who are pursuing their purpose and also shares her experiences through public speaking.
To learn more about Laura’s business, visit LeadershipDelta.com.
Photo credit: Leadership Delta
About the Author
Chris Olsen is a broadcast media veteran turned communications consultant, educator and the author of “Whyography: Building a Brand Fueled by Purpose.” The founder of Publish Her and Publish Her Story, Chris has helped thousands of women tell their stories and publish their books.
About Publish Her
Publish Her is a female-founded and focused publisher dedicated to elevating the words, writing and stories of women. We are passionate about amplifying the voices of women of color, women with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ+ community. We aim to make publishing an attainable, exciting and collaborative process for all. Publish Her specializes in print-on-demand books, workbooks, journals, magazines and more.
